When hearing 50 state shows in 30 days, it sounds insane, some may say impossible. To Nordista Freeze, it was a challenge worth trying.

Photo: Mandy Lain – Nordista Freeze at Creep Records

On May 3, the DIY Nashville artist started in Birmingham, Alabama, and completed Cleveland, Missouri, and Searcy, Arkansas, the same day. On May 23 at 2 p.m., he started his show at Creep Records in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I had the pleasure of getting to witness Freeze’s take the next step in beating the world record, currently held by Devon Allman and Donavon Frankenreiter, who completed 50 state shows in 49 days.

His Philadelphia show started with a miscommunication with the record store, but in no time, Freeze was performing at the indie store to a small crowd, more than excited to be a part of something so impressive.

The set consisted of four songs, with ‘Wysteria’ capturing everyone in his acoustic set. As he played through, he made personal small talk with the attendees about the journey so far and food recommendations. “We had a coffee shop one block away, Higher Grounds. Had a great sandwich and they’re extremely nice.”

Someone even came in off the street after a class to listen to Nordista Freeze set, blown away by the challenge at hand. Following shortly after, fans got to meet him and Zayne Isom, who has been running socials for the tour.

Fans had the opportunity to be the first on this tour to buy a pressing of ‘Big Sky Pipe Dream’ as a new batch was picked up today. “Shout out to the great state because I press my records here at Hellbender Vinyl”. All merch at the tour is a one-time pressing to celebrate the triumph of taking on such a feat.

Afterwards, Freeze talked about how and why he is doing this world-record tour.

“I wanted to see all 50 states, and I was gonna do 50 states in 50 days, and then I saw people had done it faster. I just started to feel like I’m gonna add a little edge to it. I feel like tours are too slow-paced sometimes for me, like, I get in my head if there is too much downtime, so I wanted to up the ante, pick up the pace, and make a stunt out of it, try to break a record.”

Freeze also shared that the tour is more than just breaking a record, but also the personal and cultural reasons behind taking the tour on.

“There are two whys, there is a why that this is for me, which is like wanting to, like, accomplish something difficult, I like the swagger of it. The reason you would run a marathon is just to see if you can and push yourself to complete something. I’d say if there was a greater cultural purpose, it is trying to create a through line in a time of great division and isolation, like in a small way, trying to bring some people together. I think it’s like chaotic good, if we can make a statement towards like live music, community, and DIY. Just, it feels like since I got into doing this like 10 years ago, it’s just become less and less DIY, but I feel like in the culture we are striving and so I’m just trying to be a part of that.”

To help support Nordista Freeze’s 50 States in 30 Days, you can Venmo or Cash App nordistafreeze or PayPal Nordistafreeze@gmail.com, as well as catch him on the last few stops of the tour.

Nordista Freeze’s 50 States in 30 Days

5/24 Cromwell, CT @uncle_joes_records

5/24 Providence, RI @greenestonestudios

5/24 Boston, MA @uniontavernsomerville

5/25 Durham, NH @thefreedomcafe

5/25 Portland, ME @rootwildkombucha

5/25 Ludlow, VT @killarneyvt

5/26 New York, NY House Show

5/27 Wilmington, DE @milkandhoney 302

5/27 Westminster, MD @finetunedpresents

5/27 Richmond, VA @banditoslounge.rva

5/28 Raleigh, NC @rebusworks